Tough Love…

February 17, 2012

Being gay in the South Bronx isn’t easy. The moment you step out your door, you’re often defined by your neighborhood, your peers and by tradition. The struggle with self-identity and social acceptance is always there. That’s the premise of ‘Chulito,’ a new novel written by Puerto Rican-born author, Charles Rice-González. It tells the story of 16-year-old “Chulito” who’s in love with a friend from the neighborhood. Charles Rice-González is also gay and from the South Bronx. He joins us now to talk about his new book and about the importance of defining your own self instead of letting your environment and others define you.

Tweet

A Life-Changing Botanical Garden

As part of our ongoing REI environmental series, RadioNature, we go to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. As a young teenager, Marcus Gallegos was looking to make positive changes in his life. He visited the Strybing Arboretum and there he found the change he was seeking. Marcus went from the downward spiral of gang life to the uplifting world of being lead intern at the botanical gardens. Today he’s a garden and science coordinator at one of the city’s public elementary schools. Emily Wilson has our story.

RadioNature is a year-long series that looks at how people of color connect with nature. Funding comes from the REI Foundation. This piece was produced by Emily Wilson and edited & mixed by Claire Schoen.

Tweet

The Latino vote could be the make-or-break demographic for the political candidates in 2012. The struggle for these votes is already underway, from Florida to California and Arizona, where the GOP Primary will be held February 28. The Executive Director of NALEO, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, Arturo Vargas, joins us from Los Angeles to discuss the state of the Latino vote and what it means for this election year.

Tweet